SAINT ADELAIDE

Brief description: Stained glass artwork. A portrait of a black man holding an orb and sceptre, with halo. Standing on a plinth with painted inscription 'MARK SHAVERS'. The sitter adopts the post of Saint Adelaide. Designed by Kehinde Wiley.

A portrait of a young black man in contemporary clothing including denim jeans, jacket, a white jumper with navy stripes and gold trainers. He is holding an orb, book and sceptre in his left hand, and an egg or coin in his right hand. He is depicted with a halo and standing on a plinth with the painted inscription 'MARK SHAVERS'. The sitter adopts the post of Saint Adelaide. The composition was designed by American artist Kehinde Wiley (b. 1977). Like many of his paintings, sculptures and glass works, it copies and adapts a historical work. In this case, the inspiration was taken from a stained glass window depicting Saint Adelaide designed by French academic painter Jean-Auguste-Dominque Ingres for the Chapel of St Ferdinand, Paris, which was made in the Royal manufactory at Sevres in 1843. In adapting the pose and title of this traditional religious image, the artist plays with ideas and representations of religion and power, gender and race. This panel was the first of Wiley's stained glass to enter a public collection.

Object type: stained glass window

Number of objects: 3

Production date: 2014

Production period: 21st century, early

Designer: Kehinde Wiley (1977 - )

Manufacturer: Skloart Studios

Dimensions: Height: 2513 mm, Width: 1157 mm

Inscription: MARK SHAVERS painted onto plinth

Dedication: sitter Shavers, Mark Mark Shavers is a model based in Brooklyn, New York.

Acquisition: purchase 2021

Acquisition source: Galerie Templon Paris

Accession number: ELYGM:2021.1